(KNSI) – Severe Weather Awareness Week ends on a hot note.
The theme Friday involves extreme summer temperatures. Meteorologist Melissa Dye says heat is a silent killer. “Heat’s one of those things that people maybe don’t think about as being a deadly weather event, but it’s actually Minnesota’s third largest killer as far as weather-related deaths.”
According to the records at St. Cloud State University, our city averages over 11 days per year where the mercury touches 90 degrees Fahrenheit. There is great variation, though. The record is 36 times, and just two years ago, the region saw 24 days hit the mark. When mixed with high humidity, it can easily result in heat indices over 100 degrees.
Stearns County Emergency Manager Erin Hughes notes that communities across central Minnesota are proactive about opening up places that allow residents to beat the heat. “There are cooling centers available. Many cities and public safety facilities have opened and offered space for residents who may need to come and have a place with air conditioning.”
It has been a cool spring so far in 2025, but seasons don’t offer a crystal ball into the future. It is still too early to tell what June, July, and August will hold in store as far as temperatures go.
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